Rachid Nini, a journalist and the editor-in-chief of the el-Massaa' daily, was sentenced on 9 June 2011 to one year in prison for "undermining a judicial decision", "attempting to influence the judiciary", and "reporting on untrue criminal offences" by the Court of First Instance in Ain S'ba' in Casablanca. Amnesty International believes that he is being targeted for his peaceful criticism of the Moroccan authorities, and considers him a prisoner of conscience.
"My father died, our family is composed of seven brothers and sisters and my mother. Since my father died, Rachid replaced him; he was taking care of us and supporting us. We hope that your messages will help us to get our brother back to us" - Rachid's sister, Noura told Amnesty International.
Rachid Nini is a 40-year-old journalist and father of an 11 year-old girl. He was detained on 28 April 2011 following the publication of several articles criticizing the Moroccan security services' abuses in the context of countering terrorism, including prison sentences handed down after unfair trials against Islamists.
Rachid Nini's lawyers challenged that he has been prosecuted for his writing under the Penal Code rather than the Press Code and that he be released on bail. Their demands were declined by the court; they consequently withdrew from the court hearings, on 17 May. He is currently being held in Okasha prison in Casablanca.
Rachid Nini has repeatedly called for increased political freedom and has written about corruption among government officials. As well as corruption, he denounced the secret detention centre Témara. Moroccan authorities showed little tolerance to calls for the closure of the centre, and consistently deny that abuses take place there.
The Moroccan authorities have been under pressure to respond to demands for political and human rights reform, following continuing demonstrations since 20 February inspired by the events in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.
In March a number of reforms were announced, among them the establishment of a new National Human Rights Council. King Mohammed VI also promised a plan of constitutional reform, as well as giving up some of some his political power.
Take Action
Call on the Moroccan Minister of Justice Mohamed Naciri to free Rachid Nini
Free Moroccan journalist Rachid Nini
Your Excellency,
We urge you to:
-Immediately and unconditionally release Rachid Nini, as he is held solely for his peaceful exercise of freedom of expression on the grounds of his articles condemning corruption and counter-terrorism practices of the Moroccan security services;
-Uphold your obligation under Article 9 of the Moroccan Constitution and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Morocco is a state party, which guarantee the right to freedom of expression;
-Repeal or amend the provisions in the Penal Code and the Press Code which have been used to criminalize the peaceful exercise of freedom of expression (including articles 179 and 265 of the Penal Code and article 41 of the Press Code);
http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/free-moroccan-journalist-ra...
